The Adventure Club Afloat eBook

“The boat’s gone. She isn’t
in the harbour, because if she were we could see her.
Either she’s been taken off as a joke or stolen.
I can’t imagine anyone doing it as a joke.
In any case it’s up to us to find her.
We went ashore about eight, and it’s now ten
to eleven. It’s probable that whoever swiped
her waited until we were safely ashore and out of
the way. I mean, they probably allowed us at least
half an hour.”

“They were probably watching us,” suggested
Steve.

“Why didn’t they take this one instead
of the other?” asked Cas Temple.

“Perhaps,” replied Steve, “because
they found the control locked. All they had to
do on the Follow Me was break the padlock on
the companion way doors. Still, that’s
just a guess. They may have preferred the Follow
Me for some other reason.”

“I was going to suggest that we inquire among
the other boats between here and the harbour entrance.
Two or three still have lights aboard. Maybe
they saw the Follow Me pass out.”

“Somebody look after the tenders,” said
Steve briskly. “Haul ours out and tie the
other astern. Give her a short line, so she won’t
switch around and fill with water. All ready,
Joe?”

Five minutes later the Adventurer slid through
the still water toward the mouth of the harbour.
On her way she stopped twice to shout inquiries, and
the second time a sleepy mariner, leaning, in pajamas
across the rail of a small launch, supplied the information
they sought.

“Yes, there was a cruising motor-boat went by
about nine, or a little after, headed toward the Pier
Head. I didn’t notice her much, but she
was painted dark. Come to think of it, it must
have been pretty nearly half-past, for I remember
hearing three bells strike just afterwards.”

“You didn’t see her after she went by
here?” asked Steve.

“No, I was getting ready for bed and saw her
through a port. Anything wrong?”

“Nothing,” replied Steve dryly, “except
that she belongs to us and someone’s evidently
stolen her. Thanks very much. Good night.”

“Good night,” was the answer. “I
hope you get her.”

“Well, we know she got this far,” said
Joe, “but—­um—­which way
did they take her when they got outside?”

“That’s the question,” said Harry
Corwin. “They might have gone across to
Provincetown and around the Cape, or taken her up the
shore or down. I guess the best thing for us
to do would be to hike back and give the alarm.
If we telegraphed—­”

“She went north,” said Phil with conviction.

“How do you know?” demanded Joe.

“I don’t know, but think a minute.
If you were stealing a boat you’d want to keep
out of sight with her, wouldn’t you?”

“Suppose I should.”

“Then you wouldn’t mess around in Cape
Cod Bay. You’d set a course as far from
other craft and harbours as you could. If they
went south they’d be among boats right along,
and they’d know that we’d work the wires
and that folks would be on the lookout.”